You look back at that marriage
as you might observe from the hillside
a field of white and dazzling snow,
where the paths of two large creatures go,
their course apparent in their onward tracks.

For each approaches from another part
of the forest that surrounds,
until their arrowing roots collide
to form first a precise and vivid V,
to continue then across the field
and grow to a ragged X,
one with a turbulent disorder
at its very crux.

But what occurred at that site
of whirling pawprints
and blood in the ravaged snow—
you do not know.
For the trail of each has vanished
in the darkened forest that surrounds,
and leaves no other hints,
and of course, no lingering sounds.